Fishing Lower Bottle Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Hubbard County, Minnesota, sits Lower Bottle Lake. The bank is 1,414 feet above sea level. The water covers around 394 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. It is among the larger waters listed here for Hubbard County. 9.1 miles away sits Park Rapids, the nearest town. Beyond it, Menahga at 20 miles and Bemidji at 31 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lower Bottle Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Hubbard County cover walleye, northern pike and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Lower Bottle Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 4°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Lower Bottle Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Emma Lake at 0.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Lower Bottle Lake.